Lamar tops Ravens’ NFL-best 12 Pro Bowl picks
BALTIMORE — Lamar Jackson ended the Baltimore Ravens‘ 23-year drought without a Pro Bowl quarterback, and the league’s top team celebrated an NFL-best 12 players receiving invitations to the all-star event scheduled for Jan. 26 in Orlando, Florida.
Jackson, the front-runner for NFL Most Valuable Player, became the first Baltimore quarterback selected to the Pro Bowl since Vinny Testaverde in 1996, the franchise’s inaugural season. The only team that has gone longer without a Pro Bowl QB is the Miami Dolphins, whose last Pro Bowl quarterback was Dan Marino in 1995, according to research by the Elias Sports Bureau.
In his first full season as an NFL starting quarterback, Jackson leads the NFL with 33 touchdown passes and has run for 1,103 yards, an NFL single-season record for a quarterback. He topped all players in this year’s Pro Bowl fan voting, receiving 704,699 votes, nearly 165,000 more than any other player.
“This honor is all about my teammates and our coaches because without them, the success we’ve had as a team wouldn’t be possible,” Jackson said. “I’m also grateful for all the fans who continue to support us and who have helped make this season so special. Ultimately, it’s about winning, and we still have a lot of work to do before we accomplish our biggest goals.”
The Ravens (12-2), who own the NFL’s best record, tied an NFL mark for most players on the Pro Bowl roster before injury replacements. The 2007 Dallas Cowboys, with 13 Pro Bowl players (two alternates), hold the record after injury replacements.
The New Orleans Saints topped all NFC teams with seven selections, including quarterback Drew Brees, who is headed to his 13th Pro Bowl after setting the NFL record for career touchdown passes on Monday, and Michael Thomas, who leads the NFL in receptions (133) and receiving yards (1,552).
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was not selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time since 2008, when he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the season opener. With his streak ending, Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly and Dallas Cowboys Tyron Smith left tackle now have the longest active Pro Bowl streaks, at six straight years.
Brady, whose 14 Pro Bowls are tied for the most all time, ranks 20th this season with an 86.5 passer rating. This marks the first time since 2003 that the Patriots had no offensive players make the Pro Bowl.
The Pro Bowl teams feature differing trends at quarterback. In the NFC, every quarterback selected to the initial roster is at least 31 years old (Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers and Brees). None of the AFC quarterbacks is 25 (Jackson, Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson).
Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett, who leads the NFL with 16.5 sacks, is one of 26 first-time Pro Bowl selections.
“To make the Pro Bowl, it’s a dream come true,” Barrett said. “That’s the best way I can sum it up. I dreamed of this growing up. It’s a huge honor, and I can only hope that I’ll have more to follow.”
Three rookies were selected: San Francisco 49ers defensive End Nick Bosa, Kansas City Chiefs return specialist Mecole Hardman and New Orleans Saints specialist Deonte Harris.
Niners cornerback Richard Sherman made his fifth Pro Bowl and earned a $1 million bonus in the process. The selection also earned him a $1 million increase to his base salary for 2020, pushing it to $8 million.
The Buffalo Bills are the only 10-win team without multiple Pro Bowl players, and the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants were the only two teams without a player selected to the Pro Bowl.
The Ravens had never sent more than eight players to the Pro Bowl. Joining Jackson were six players from the league’s highest-scoring offense: running back Mark Ingram, tight end Mark Andrews, fullback Patrick Ricard, guard Marshal Yanda and offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley.
The other Pro Bowl players from Baltimore were cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey, safety Earl Thomas, outside linebacker Matthew Judon, long-snapper Morgan Cox and kicker Justin Tucker.
“I was overjoyed when I heard the news,” Judon said. “It was probably one of the most exciting moments of my career so far. We work so hard in this game — everybody on our team has — and it’s just so rewarding.”
Players for the game are determined by the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches. Each group’s vote counts one-third toward determining the 88 players selected to the Pro Bowl.
AFC roster
Quarterbacks: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore; Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City; Deshaun Watson, Houston
Running backs: Nick Chubb, Cleveland; Derrick Henry, Tennessee; Mark Ingram, Baltimore
Wide receivers: Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers; Tyreek Hill, Kansas City; DeAndre Hopkins, Houston; Jarvis Landry, Cleveland
Fullback: Patrick Ricard, Baltimore
Tight ends: Mark Andrews, Baltimore; Travis Kelce, Kansas City
Tackles: Trent Brown, Oakland; Ronnie Stanley, Baltimore; Laremy Tunsil, Houston
Guards: David DeCastro, Pittsburgh; Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis; Marshal Yanda, Baltimore
Centers: Rodney Hudson, Oakland; Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh
Defensive ends: Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers; Calais Campbell, Jacksonville; Frank Clark, Kansas City
Interior linemen: Geno Atkins, Cincinnati; Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh; Chris Jones, Kansas City
Outside linebackers: Matthew Judon, Baltimore; Von Miller, Denver; T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh
Inside/middle linebackers: Dont’a Hightower, New England; Darius Leonard, Indianapolis
Cornerbacks: Stephon Gilmore, New England; Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore; Marcus Peters, Baltimore; Tre’Davious White, Buffalo
Free safeties: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh; Earl Thomas, Baltimore
Strong safety: Jamal Adams, New York Jets
Punters: Brett Kern, Tennessee
Placekicker: Justin Tucker, Baltimore
Long snapper: Morgan Cox, Baltimore
Return specialist: Mecole Hardman, Kansas City
Special-teamer: Matthew Slater, New England
NFC roster
Quarterbacks: Drew Brees, New Orleans; Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay; Russell Wilson, Seattle
Running backs: Dalvin Cook, Minnesota; Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas; Christian McCaffrey, Carolina
Wide receivers: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay; Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay; Julio Jones, Atlanta; Michael Thomas, New Orleans
Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco
Tight ends: Zach Ertz, Philadelphia; George Kittle, San Francisco
Tackles: Terron Armstead, New Orleans; David Bakhtiari, Green Bay; Tyron Smith, Dallas
Guards: Brandon Brooks, Philadelphia; Zack Martin, Dallas; Brandon Scherff, Washington
Centers: Travis Frederick, Dallas; Jason Kelce, Philadelphia
Defensive ends: Nick Bosa, San Francisco; Danielle Hunter, Minnesota; Cameron Jordan, New Orleans
Interior linemen: Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia; Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams; Grady Jarrett, Atlanta
Outside linebackers: Shaquil Barrett, Tampa Bay; Chandler Jones, Arizona; Khalil Mack, Chicago
Inside/middle linebackers: Luke Kuechly, Carolina; Bobby Wagner, Seattle
Cornerbacks: Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans; Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams; Richard Sherman, San Francisco; Darius Slay, Detroit
Free safeties: Budda Baker, Arizona; Eddie Jackson, Chicago
Strong safety: Harrison Smith, Minnesota
Punter: Tress Way, Washington
Placekicker: Wil Lutz, New Orleans
Long-snapper: Rick Lovato, Philadelphia
Return specialist: Deonte Harris, New Orleans
Special-teamer: Cordarrelle Patterson, Chicago
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.